Beetroot and carrots hide their progress underground, which is why they are so often pulled too early or left until they are woody. Both crops give you a wide harvest window, though, and a few simple checks tell you exactly when they are ready. Pick young for sweetness and tenderness, or let a maincrop grow on for winter storage.
This guide covers how to tell beetroot and carrots are ready, typical timings from sowing, how to lift without damage, and what to do with a late crop. For sowing and growing, see our guides to growing beetroot and growing carrots.
- Beetroot golf-ball to tennis-ball size, 8–13 weeks after sowing
- Early carrots finger-thick, about 8–10 weeks after sowing
- Maincrop carrots shoulders 2–3 cm across, 12–16 weeks after sowing
- Lift after watering or rain; loosen with a fork, never yank dry roots
How to tell beetroot is ready
Beetroot grows with its shoulders above the soil, so you can see it swell. Start pulling when the roots are the size of a golf ball, about 4–5 cm across: these are the sweetest and most tender, ideal for roasting whole. Most varieties reach that size 8–10 weeks after sowing. Let others grow on to tennis-ball size, 7–8 cm, for slicing and pickling. Beyond that the roots get fibrous and can develop woody rings.
Thin as you harvest: pulling every other beet in a row gives the remaining roots room to swell. Young leaves are good to eat too, so take a few from each plant for salads, but leave enough to feed the root.
How to tell carrots are ready
Carrots give fewer clues above ground, but the top of the root, the shoulder, often peeks through the soil. Brush the soil away from a couple of plants and measure: early carrots are ready from finger thickness, roughly 1–1.5 cm, about 8–10 weeks after sowing. Maincrop varieties are ready when the shoulders are 2–3 cm across, usually 12–16 weeks after sowing. The only sure test is to pull one and taste it.
Carrots for storage can stay in the ground well into autumn. Lift them before the soil gets waterlogged or hard frosts set in, or leave them in place under a thick mulch on well-drained soil, as described in our guide to storing root vegetables.
- Water the day before Moist soil lets roots slide out whole. Pulling from dry, hard ground snaps carrots and tears beetroot.
- Loosen with a fork Push a fork in 10 cm from the row and lever gently, then ease the roots out by the base of the leaves.
- Twist beetroot leaves off Twist the leaves off about 3 cm above the root rather than cutting. Cut beetroot "bleeds" and loses colour when cooked.
- Trim carrot tops Cut the foliage off just above the shoulder so the carrots do not lose moisture through the leaves.
- Firm the row after carrots Pull carrots in the evening and press the soil back down. The scent of bruised foliage attracts carrot fly to the plants that remain.
Baby roots or maincrop?
Harvest young
Sweet, tender roots for eating now.
- Golf-ball beetroot and finger-thick carrots
- Ready from early summer with successional sowing
- Best eaten within a few days of pulling
Grow on for storage
Larger roots that keep for months.
- Maincrop carrots and tennis-ball beetroot
- Lift in autumn before the ground gets waterlogged
- Store unwashed, in cool, slightly damp sand
Sowing small amounts every three to four weeks from spring to midsummer gives a steady supply of young roots and a final sowing to grow on for winter. Our vegetable sowing calendar has the dates.
Common mistakes
- Leaving roots too long. Oversized beetroot and old carrots turn woody and split.
- Pulling from dry soil. Roots snap or tear. Water first.
- Cutting beetroot leaves. The roots bleed; twist the leaves off instead.
- Leaving carrot thinnings on the bed. Their scent draws carrot fly. Remove them straight away.
- Storing damaged roots. Eat split or forked roots first; only store perfect ones.
Frequently asked questions
How long does beetroot take to grow?
About 8–10 weeks to golf-ball size and 10–13 weeks for larger roots, depending on variety and temperature.
How long do carrots take from seed to harvest?
Early varieties take roughly 8–10 weeks; maincrop varieties 12–16 weeks.
Can you leave carrots in the ground over winter?
Yes, on free-draining soil. Cover the row with straw or fleece against hard frost, and lift them all before the ground warms and they regrow in spring.
Why are my carrots split?
Usually irregular watering: a heavy downpour after a dry spell makes the roots swell suddenly and crack. Water steadily in dry weather.
Pick young for flavour, leave some to grow on, and you will be eating home-grown roots for most of the year. Browse beetroot seeds, carrot seeds and all root vegetables, see the full seed shop, or explore the rest of our growing guides.
